I have been wondering lately what makes people choose specific plants for their gardens. Once they have decided on the type that is. I tend to choose a certain colour palette for areas in my garden so blues, purples and what I describe as ‘bruised’ colours are my favourites. I like a few whites in summer and the odd orange or red to spice things up (and contrast with the blues), but I’m not sure how yellows and pinks slip in.
But in spring I often choose not only by colour, but also by names. Which is why the first of my selection this week is this little Narcissi ‘Mother Duck’. I mean how could you not want some of these in your garden? The soft yellow petals have darker edges and curve upwards gracefully and blend to white in the centre as the flower matures, while the long, central trumpet is egg-yolk yellow. A little taller than ‘tête-à-tête’ they are still dwarf narcissi and look great in pots.
Another one bought on a whim is Tulipa ‘Peppermint Sticks’ named because it has the colour of a stick of traditional seaside mint rock. You’ll have to wait for these though as they haven’t made an appearance yet this year.
So let’s see something that has reappeared: this bowl of Ipheion ‘Alberto Castillo’ or Spring Starflower which is rated as the most worthy variety due to its big, truly star-shaped white blooms and delightful scent.
This year I also have ‘Wisley Blue’ with violet-blue flowers which has only just begun to flower and looks white to me, and ‘Jessie’ which is the most incredible deep blue. Only one flower so I’ll come back to that one in a week or two. They all prefer a sunny position in the garden and should spread. Good in rockery or alpine gardens.
The Woodland border is beginning to show signs of life now with hardy geraniums, ferns and hellebores, bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis), Scillla (Chionodoxa) luciliae and sweet woodruff emerging from the soil. The early daffs are now going over.
My Hellebores have been quite late this year, in particular the H.niger (the white ones) but this lovely deep pink anemone hellebore has been flowering for a while on the patio, in a pot which it currently shares with half a dozen ‘Purple Ladies’ tulips.
And one last look at Tulipa sylvestris which hasn’t really done very well this year going from the lovely tight balls of last week to virtually going over now. The continual mist and the heavy rains this week hasn’t helped as they really need some sunshine to open up the flowers. Yesterday’s gale force winds certainly haven’t helped!
Going back to my opening paragraphs, how do you choose the plants you put in your garden?
Jim of Garden Ruminations is now our host and as a former nurseryman has a lot more than the SOS happening over on his blog so well worth following. As always, if you want a peek over other people’s garden walls then please pop over to his site where you find links to many more wonderful garden enthusiasts from all over the world. See here for the participant’s guide.
Cornwall in Colours 
Who wouldn’t love a Mother Duck? Great name!
I know. Hard to resist. ❤️
The little Narcissi ‘Mother Duck’ are very pretty, and I would be happy to accommodate some in my garden – I love the upward curve of the petals. The bowl of Ipheion is a delight, and your woodland border is looking great. Spring is hard at work in your garden.
I choose according to what I like – I’m really bad at having a colour plan and not sticking to it! But I’m improving as I now check growing conditions before I buy. 😀
Colour is probably my first priority followed by whether it attracts pollinators and isn’t likely to get eaten or die in my wet winter weather. But Mother Duck just grabbed me, and it is a delightful narcissi with the petals becoming white as the flower ages.
Those ‘Mother Ducks’ are lovely. I choose according to what looks good in the bulb or seed catalogue – I should plan more carefully.
Bulb and seed catalogues are soooo tempting! I went a bit mad when I first got my garden after many years without one, but I am a lot more careful now and I have unsubscribed from lots of online nurseries!!
I always buy plants for the bees and pollinators. I have always wanted perfumed plants and I have found there is a complete overlap here, so we are all happy. I love your rain catchers. Amelia
Yes I like to choose good pollinators and I love scent too. There are so many plants though that it is often difficult to make a decision.
How do I choose? Colour is my primary consideration always. Whites for the front garden, purple, burgundy, peach for the Rose garden with a little blue and white here and there, Blues and purples again for the Knot garden and the hot/cool Jekyll continuum for the Long Border. A bad name will seriously put me off though, however otherwise attractive a plant might be. So no ‘Hot Lips’, ‘Brazen Hussey’, or ‘Blue for You’ – on second thoughts that one does look quite pretty.
Ah, yes, I am with you on a bad name. Though actually I could be attracted to ‘Blue for You’ except I loathe blue roses.
Hmm, colour and lengthy flowering period perhaps, plus plants for winter interest. I love rusty metal too and even if the birds don’t use them I would be happy to have raincatchers like yours in my garden
I love hearing what and why you plant in your garden. I am a Master Gardener in 3 US states, all of them so different with different obstacles. Its all a part of the fun, I guess. This was nice and reminds me of my Washington Garden.
Beautiful, as always. We have starflowers in our garden and every spring some appear in the lawn, in various locations. They seem to have just spread at random. They look pretty so we just leave them be.
Oh, I love the colour in your garden. But funnily enough, I really like your pure white Spring Starflower – it’s too cute! And how unique is the rain catcher – I assume in the winter they will fill up quickly 😉.
I tend towards plants that are insect friendly. My wife goes for the colour scheme. Sometimes we complement each other.